mcknight



No. 608,6l9. Patented Allg. 9, |898.

A. MBKNIGHT.

INVALID BED.

(Appumian med oct. s, 189e.)

y ngz, 2'

al 0l d r3] l 4 (No Modal.) 6 Sheets-Sheet I.

Patented Aug. 9, 1898.4

Afmclcmeu.

INVALID BED.

(Application led Deb. S, 1896.)

6 sham-snai): 2.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR Mmmm/MW BY w Phi/WW ATTORN EYS WITNESSES No. 608,619. PatewtedAug. 9, |898.

, A. McKNlGHT.

INVALID BED.

(Application filed Oct. S, 1896.) (No Modal.) v V Sheets-Sheet 3.

WiTNESSES -Tg* liu W ATTORNE S No. 608,6I9. Patented Aug. Y9, i898. A.MCKNIGH'R INVALID BED.

(Application led Oct. B, 1896.)4

6 Sheets-Smet 4..

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

"0.608,619. PatentedAugjJas.

A mcKmGHT. Y

INVALID B ED.

(Application med oct. s, 189e.)

(un Model.) s sheets-sheet 5.

ign?,

I fs' g BY Am f Www/wm i fi Y ATTORNEYS loi' the head of the bed withoutthe hoisting- UNJTED STATI-:sv

INVALI PATENT OFFICE."

, ALEXANDER MeKNieI-ir, oF NEW Youn, N. YQ

SPECIFICATION forming part of Leas Patent No. 608,619, dated August e,ieee.

applic-tuuu negocios-:r s, 1896.

To' all whom t 11e/rey concern:

llc it known that LALEXANDER MCKNIGHT, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city of New York, (Brooklym) lcounty of Kings, and Stateof New York, have invented an Invalid-Bed, of which thefollowing isa'speciiication. 4

This invention relates to invalid-beds, and has for its object toprovide a bed'of this character improved and simplified invitsconstruction, whereby an invalid may be han-4 dled with greater facilityand less annoyance to the patient than has been heretofore attained andwherebythe cost of such a bed is brought within very reasonable limits.

The invention consists of the construction and the various featureshereinafter set forth.

Referring now to the drawings formingpart of this specification andembodying the invention and in which like lettersof reference designatecorresponding parts. throughout, Figure 1 is a plan view of the bed,showing the bed-bottom. Fig. 2 is a side elevation showing thebed-bottom and mattress in position for a sitting posture. Fig.f3 is aplan View showing the mattress and tableattachment. Fig. 4: is a sideelevation showing the table' attachment and showing in dotted lines .thebed tilted up at one end. Fig. 'is aside elevation showing in dottedlines the bed ele- Fig. 6 is an end elevation yof the head of the bed.Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the foot of the bed. Fig. 8 is an en'lelevation legs. Fig. 9 is a .plan view of a windlass employed at eachend of the bed. Fig. 10 is a plan view of an antifriction-socket securedto the ends of the bed for the hoisting-legs. Fig.` 11 is a sideelevation of a legstretcher. Fig. 12 is a plan view showing the hammockin' place. Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a wire ring employed' onthe'side rails of the hammock to make the connection with its fbottomfabric. Fig. 13 is aside elevation showing` the hammock in elevatedposition. Fig. 14 is a side elevation in section," showing a foldingjoint for the end rails of the hammockf rame. Figs.' 15 and 16 Varerespectivelya side elevation and plan View of a clutch for thehead-section of the bed-bottom. Fig. 17A is aside elevation of a crankand windlass .for the foot-section of the 'bed-bottom. Fig.

serai No. 608,217. tramas.)

IASis a sectional elevation ofY` one end of .the

windlass. Fig. 19 isa diagram of this windlass and kits cord; and 2O 'isa sideelevation of the bed-pan on" the line 20, Fig. 1.

In the several elevations and plan views'of r the bed I have omitted insome of these iigures the illustration of various features shown inother figures for the sake of clearness and to avoid d-uplicationofparts.

The frame of Jthe bed comprises the usual .I

end rails A A' 'and side rails B B',.Whicir are supported by'legsextended above the .rails to form posts A2 A2 and B2 B2 at the head andfoot, respectively. The bed-bottom' is made in threeV separatesections-#the head-section C, middle section D, and leg-section E. The-`head-section has side rails a a. and end railsb b. l'The end rail bf isdepressed along its length to prevent the bottom fabric when understrain from striking' it. The inner end of the head-section ispivotallysupported by t.runnions c @Greeting in bearings dvd on the..."`

side rails Bof the bed-frame. These trunnions stand vin 4a -line abovethe level of the head-section when it isv in horizontal position,

so that the head-section when moving from Y horizontaltoupright positionswings'to slight degree bodily toward the head of the bed. The objectof-this arrangement is to provide ample room for the mattress tol fold,A at the innerend of the head-section when the head-section is raised,so that the patient will not be crowded forward.- This is an importautfeature and adds greatly tothe 'comfort l of the patient when .thehead-section is raised or lowered. A

In Figs. 2 and 15 I have .shown the truni i I nions c c' ro"ecti`n0 fromshort arms e eX- tending from the side rails, as embodying thisarrangement. The head-section is generally 'counterbalanced-by means ofsprings, so asto have a' tendency to risev of itself. These springs Fare secured at their outer ends to the bed-frame and at their other endsto arms f, downwardly extending from the head-section. To provide foradjustability of the s rings, they areprovided with turnbuclrles JE OOor the arms f are provided with a plurality of apertures, into which thesprings may hook. .A suitable locking device is provided' in order tolock 'the' yhead-section v:in any desired position, and' inthe bestformis so arranged as to be capable of easy operation by the occupant of thebed. rlhis locking device, in conjunction with the counterbalance of thehead-section, enables the patient himself to raise and lower thehead-section with practically'no elfort op his part and without the aidof an attendant. The locking device in its best form consists of twomeshing members, one of which is stationaryand the other of which iscarried by the head-section, so as to be accessible to the patient inany position.

In the present embodiment of the invention g is a stationary platehaving a circular rack g and fixed to the bearing Z, Fig. 15. 7L is alatch pivoted in the end of the trunnion c. This latch has a tooth h onone end, adapted to take in the rack,and has a spring 71,2 at its otherend bearin g on the plate g, which serves to urge the tooth 71,' intomesh with the rack. 71,3 is an operating handle or rod secured to thelatch and extending up alongside the head-section. When this rod ispushed outhead-section, if occasion requires.

ward, the latch `is disengaged from the rack,

lthe counterbalancse-spring F raises the headsection automatically, andthe rod and latch are carried upwith the head-section by the trunnion c,the spring h2 moving over the face of the rack-plate. When the rod isreleased, the spring 71,2 urges the latch into engagement with the rackto lock the head-section. The outer end of the head-section is generallyprovided with projections 7s 7c', adapted to rest on the rails B B toprovide rigid supports for the head-section when in horizontalposition.` One of these, 7c, may be used as a handle toassist thesprings in raising the The rod 7i3 may be'also used to raisethehead-section. The springs F, however, are ordinarily expected todothis work and are arranged for adjustment to suit the weight of thepatient. The latch 71, has a certain small amount of play inv .the rackg, which enables the headsection when raised to rock-slightly on itspivots'against the springs E. The weight of the patients back,therefore, is largely supported by these springs when the head-sectionis raised, and the patients comfort is thereby largely added to.

The middle section D of the bed-bottom is removably supported on theside rails B B. Supported by the bottomfabric of this section andformingpart thereof is a commodeseat. The seat comprises a commode-frameG, c nnected-on both sides with the fabric, and seat-f rame G',removably supported by and fitting over a tongue on top of ythecomn1e-frame. The underside of the commodeframe G is provided with flanges Z,which support a removable commode G2, eut away on its inner side at Z'in order that when the pan is removed while the patient is occupying theseat the pan will clear any part of the patients body projecting belowthe seat. A piece 2 extends downward from the frame G to cover thiscut-away portion Z' whenl the commode is in position, so aste protectthe patient from drafts while occupying'the seat. The commode isprovided with a handle m and also with an overliow-pipe m',solnetimesespecially serviceablcwhen largedouehes are taken by the patient. v

The leg-section is pivoted at its inner end to the side rails li 13 andis provided with a foot-section E', adapted to fold upward. Theleg-section is operated bya windlass ll, extending underneath thebed-frame and supported in bearing-brackets 'n n', secured to the siderails li B'. 'The \vindlassisprovided with the usual pawl and ratchetand crank.

The cord or cords of the windlass are connected with the leg-section foroperating it.

In the best form I employ a continuous lifting-cord K', having its endssecured to the windlass near the ends thereof and engaging arms o,projecting downward from the side rails of the leg-section and passingover p'fleys o' on the side rails l B'.V tion of the leg-section is ofsuch length as just to clear the floor when lowered, so that The mainpora patient may sit perfectly upright, with his lower legs in verticalposition, the foot-section at such time striking the floor and foldingto the proper extent.V The joint of the foot-section is so arranged asto prevent -tlie foot-section from turning down below the plain of themain portion of the leg-section. By employing the arms o the leg-sectionmay be raised ab'ove the level of the bed-frame, as shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2. The windlass K may be removed, 'together with itscord,from its bracket u by drawing it out' on one side of the bed-frame,the cord passing through the slot ornotch '11,2 in thcbraeket n. Thebed-bottom fabric employed for the sections of the bed-bottom iu thebest form of the invention consists of a suitable fabricl secured onlyto the side rails of the bed-bot.- tom and has tral'isversely-yieldingsprings. This form is shown in the drawings. itis lIO separatelydescribed and claimed in my latpecially desirable in an invalid-bedwould be largely sacrificed, becausenot only would the separate sectionsbe less yielding and easy, but the patient would have to rest on fon rof these rails at the middle of the bed. llowever, my invention is not,of course, limited to the employment of any particular form of bottomfabric, and many of its features are quite independent in their functionof any particular bottom fabric.

The bed is provided with a hammock or stretcher and hoisting mechanismto lift the ,These rails are preferably tubes.

patient up from the bed, so that the bedding may be aired or changed. Atthe ends of the bed and generally secured to the end rails .A A arewindlasses J, whose cords J pass around guide-pulleysjsnear the cornersof the bed and up over supports j, preferably in the form of smallsheaves on the posts A2 and B2, and are provided with rings j' or othersuitable means for attachment to the hammock.

In the best form of the invention I employ a windlass having a singlecontinuous cord adjustably connected with the windlass to take upautomatically any slack in either end of the cord. In carrying out thispurpose an aperture i2 is made in the windlass, through which the cordfreely passes. The windlass is'provided with the usual pawl and ratchetand crank, and when the cord is wound up any slack in either endimmediately divides itself between the two ends and disappears, the cordslipping through the aperture of the windlass until such distributiontakes place before being wound on the windlass. This is an importantfeature, as it prevents the possibility of one side or corner of thehammock tilting and maintains the hammock in a horizontal pla-ne. W'henthe hammock is to be hoisted, both windlasses are operatedsimultaneously. The hammock or stretcher itself may vary in form; but Ihave devised a special form which I deem best and which has manyimportant advantages. Itis shown in Fig. l2 and is practically abed-bottom. It comprises a frame formed of side rails II and jointed endrails II, whereby this bed-bottom or hammock is adapted to fold. Thejoints of the end rails are one-way break-joints. They break upward fromthe horizontal only. In making these joints I pivot a linkp at bot-h itsends in the adjoining ends of the two sections composing an end rail andcut away at p those ends of the rail-sections beneath the link. A sleevep2, sliding on the rail, when moved to cover the joint holds the jointrigid and when moved to one side leaves the joint free to bend. Thebottom fabric which I prefer to use for this hammock or bed-bottom is ofthe character described and claimed iu my above-mentioned patent-thatis, it is supported only by the side rails and has transversely-yieldingsprings. In the particular form here shown the fabric is made up of aplurality of separate andindependent strips or bands Il, generally ofcanvas. Stitched in the ends of these bands are small rods q, which areconnected by means of links q with rods q2 a little beyond the ends ofthe strips, and reaching from these rods q2 to the side rails II aresprings r, detachably connected with these rails. I preferably employwire rings .S on these rails l-I, to which the springs r are hooked.This obviates the neccssity of boring holes in the side rails,whichwould tend to weaken the rails and offer homes for vermin. Then thepatient is to be lifted up on the hammock, the head-section is firstraised and several of strips L slipped in place behind him. Thehead-section is then lowered and the rest of the strips slipped underhis legs and body. The hammock-frame is then put upon the bed and theend rails II bent upward at their joints; The strips are then hooked tothe rings s and the end rails II' are pressed down and the jointslocked, thereby stretching the strips L beneaththe patient. Thelifting-cords J are then attached to the corners of the hammockframe andthe windlasses are operated to lift and hold the patient above the bed.If it is desired, as is'sometimes the case, to keep the patient restingat an inclination, this is easily effected by raising one end of thehammock higher than the other by means of the wi ndlass at one end.V Themanner of lowering the hammock, restoring the patient to the bed,

and removing the hammock will be apparent.V

In some cases it is very important to keep a patient resting at aninclination in the bed, and for this purpose I have provided simple andconvenient means whereby one end of the bed may be hoisted Yand held atany desired height. In carrying outthisV purpose I employ apair ofhoisting-legs M M, supported in place by the bed-frame at one end, onwhich by suitable hoisting mechanism the bedframe is bodily lifted andsupported at one end. The most convenient hoisting mechanism is thewindlass J and its cord J The cord J only requires suitable means forconnecting it to the legs M. In the best form I provide the cord withringsz. t, adapted to slip over the ends of the cross-bar M', connectingthe upper ends of the legs. This crossbar gen'erallyhas sockets t' toreceive the ends of the legs `M in orderthat it may be separable fromthe legs for convenience in storing.

` As means for supporting the legs M in place I have shown. brackets N,secured on and projecting from the end rail A', and a bar O, connectingthe posts 132. .These brackets, of

` which, as shown, there are two for each leg M,

are preferably provided with two antifrictionrollers zavbetween which aleg M passes. To hoist oneend of the bed,it is only necessary to attachthe rings t t to the rod M' and turn the windlass J, which can be doneby an attendant with little effort. It sometimes becomes desirable tooperate upon a patient without removinghim from his bed; but beds aregenerally too low for the convenience of the surgeon and his attendants.this difficulty by employing a pair of hoistinglegs M M for each end ofthe bed, so that the bed can be elevated to any-height desired byoperating the windlasses J and may be kept at an' inclination at thesame time,if required. In some cases it is necessary to put the patientsleg or legs .under longitudinal strain. For this purpose I provide anordinary stretching-cord-P and weight P.

it passes over the foot of the bed has a support which is adjustablevertically an'dlaterally,whereby whatever be the elevation of the Iovercome IOO IIO

`1 3o This cordwhere patient on the bed or on whatever side of the bedthe leg to be stretched is resting the cord P maybe so adjusted as toexerta longitudinal strain in any plane. In the present embodiment ofthis part of the invention I employ a support, preferably a pulley R,depending from the rod M and movable thereon. From this pulley R isswung, by means of a cord or chain o, a support, preferably a pulley R2,over which the cord P runs. The pulley R2 may be vertically adjusted bymeans of the chain v. It thus appears that the support or pulley R2 isboth vertically and laterally adjustable.

The bed is provided with a vertically and horizontally adjustablefolding table, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. As therein shown, the table issupported by the foot of the bedframe, although, of course, it might insome cases be supported at the head. S is the table-top, carried by twoarms w w, supported by the posts B2 B2, and arranged to slide back andforth on supports pivoted to these posts. These supports are preferablyin the form of tubular sockets w w and are pivoted to the posts at'w2.Vhen the table is in use, the sockets w are turned up and the top S ispulled out to the required distance. When the table is not in use, itmay be pushed back, its arms sliding in the sockets w', and the tablemay be then folded up into a substantially vertical position against thefoot of the bed, the sockets w turning down on their pivots.

Chains or cords w3, connected to the sockets w and adapted forconnection with the bedframe, are generally employed, so as to hold thetable-top when in use at the proper height. By varying the length of thechain w3 the height of the table-top may be adjusted to suit theconvenience of the patient. It will thus be seen that the table isvertically and horizontally adjustable.

Y is a jointed swinging bracket fixed to the side rail of the bed-frameand carrying a cuspidor y. The mattress X is provided with an openingover the commode-seat extending through the mattress and made larger atthe top than at the bottom by having its sides slanting inward, as shownin dotted lines, Fig. 3. This opening is normally closed by aninflatable cushion larger at its top than at its bottom, which fitssnugly in place and iiusli with the top surface of the mattress. It isto be filled with air or water, and is located in that part of themattress which supports the hips of the patient. Bed-sores generallyform first in the region of the patients hips and near the base of thespine, but by the employment of the inflatable cushion o: the formationof these bed-sores is prevented or at least greatly retarded. Cushions,such as x, may be fitted to the mattress at any place desired.

If it were desired to dispense with the springs F for lifting thehead-section, the cord J may have its ends passed around guide-pulleyson the corners of the bed-frame and connected with the arms f, as shownin dotted lines, Fig. 2. The Windlass J may then be used to operate thehead-section.l

In some cases it may become desirable to take up any slack in thebed-bottom. I provide for this by suitable adjusting devices, such asthe turnbucklesf. (Shown in Fig. 2.)

While I 'have shown in the drawings the best form of the completeinvention and its various features now known to me, it will readily beseen by one skilled in the art that various changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Many features ofthe invention are applicable to invalid-chairs.

p What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an invalid-bed the combination with the bed-frame, of a Windlasssupported by l the bed and provided with a single continuous cord havingits two ends adapted for engagement with the part to be shifted, thecord being loosely connected with the Windlass so as to automaticallyadjust itself to its work, substantially as set forth.

2. In an invalid-bed, the combination with the bed-frame, of a windlasssupported by the bed and provided with a single continuous cord havingits two ends adapted for engagement with the part to be shifted, thecord passing freely through an eye in the windlass so as toautomatically adjust itself to its work, substantially as set forth.

3. In an invalid-bed, the combination with the bed-frame and bed-bottom,of a hammock or stretcher comprising a folding frame havingupwardly-breaking one-way joints and a bottom composed of a plurality ofseparate and independent strips or bands removably connected with theside rails of the frame, and means connected near the corners of theframe for hoisting the hammock above the bed-bottom, substantially asset forth.

4. A bed-bottom comprising a frame consisting of rigid side rails andjointed end rails, and a flexible spring-bottom removably connected withthe side rails and consisting of springs connected to the side rails andof separate and independent strips or bands IOO having their endsconnected to said springs,

ism supported on the bed-frame connecting the said legs and bed-f ramewhereby the bedframe' may be lifted on said hoisting-legs, substantiallyas set forth.

7. In an invalid-bed, the combination with the bed-frame, of a pair ofhoisting-legs for leach end of the bed in addition to the legs of thebed-frame and supported in position by the bed-frame, and twoindependent hoisting mechanisms, one for each end' of the bed,

each .of said hoisting mechanisms connecting a-pair of hoisting-legswith the bed-frame whereby either end or both ends of the bed- .his

frame may be lifted on said hoisting-legs, substantially asset forth.

S. In an invalid-bed, the combination with the bed-frame, of a pair. ofhoisting-legs in 'addition to the legs of the bed-frame and supported inpositionby the bed-frame at one end thereof, a Windlass supported at theend of thc bed, a cord-or cords connecting with the windlass and havingthe free ends adapted for connection with the hoisting-legs above thebed-frame, said cord or cords passing around guide-pulleys or theirequivalent xed to the bed-frame one on each .side of the Vwindlass,substantially as set forth.

9. In an invalidbed,zthe combination With the bed-frame, of apivotedleg-section piv/ otall)T supported. by the bed-frame and havingdownwardly-projecting arms, a Windlass supported by the bed-frame havinga cord or cords connecting with the said arms of the pivoted section,and'supporting-guides on the bed-frame over which the cord or cords passto the said arms from the windlass whereby the said leg-section' may beelevated and inclined above t-he bed-frame, substantially as 4set forth.v

10. In anin-valid-bcd', the combination with the bed-frame of aleg-section pivotally supported by the l,bed-frame ,and having at itsouter end a folding foot-section, said leg-section adapted to bedepressed below and elevated and inclined above the bed-frame and meansfor operating the leg-section, substantially as set forth.

l1. In an invalid-bed, the combination with the bed-frame of an endsection pivotally supported by the bed-frame, a wiidlass removablysupported in bearing-brackets on the bed-frame and. having-a cord orcords secured thereto and removably connected with the l yend sectiomoneof the windlass-brackets removed, substantially as set forth.

having a'notch therein through which the cord mayl be withdrawn when thewindlass is 12.v In an invalid-bed 'the combination with thc bed-frame,of ya leg-section pivotally supported by the bed-frame and havingdownwardly-projecting arms', a windlass supported 5 by-the bed-iframe, aA,single continuous cord having its ends 'secured to the windlass andengaging the said arms of the end section to the bed-frame over whichthe cord passes from the windlassto the end section, ysubstantially asset forth.

13.'y In an invalid-bed, the combination with the bed-frame havingposts, of a table having arms, and supports for said arms pivotedsupports substantially as set forth.

14:. In an invalid-bed, the combination with the bed-frame having posts,of a table having arms, tubular supports in which said arms areadjustably supported, said tubular supports being pivoted to thebed-posts, and means for holding the tnbular'supports in place,substantially as set forth.

the bed-frame havingposts at the foot,.of a tablesupported by the postsand horizontally and vertically adjustable and adaptedto fold fabric,the commode-pan being cut away on one side, and a piece carried on theunder side of the bottom fabricat said opening adapted to close thecommode-pan at its cut-away portion when the pan is in place,substantially as and for thepurpose set forth. K

18, In. an invalid-bed the combination with the bottom fabric, of aremovable commodepan supported underneath an opening in said fabric, thecommode-pan being provided with purpose set forth. v l

19. A mattress for a bed, having an openthe top than at the bottom andan inflated cushion larger at the top than at' the botto-m, and fittingsaid opening and flush Vwith the upper. surface of the mattress,substantially asset forth.

and pi voted leg and head sections,a commodeframe carried by andformingfpart o f the 'bottom of the middle section, a commode adapted tobe removably supported by and underneath-the commode-frame, a commode-'modc-frame, a mattress covering the bed- .bottom and seat-frame, andhaving a removable section directly over` the seat-frame,

15. In an invalid-bed, the combination with up against the said posts,lsubstantially as set pan supported underneath an opening in said anoverflow-duct, substantially as and for the ing all the way through thesame larger at,

20,. Inan invalid-bed, the combination of a bed-bottom consisting of amiddle section Y seat supported on and carried by the 'com- -adju'st thesame, and supporting-guides on 65 to the posts, the table-armsadjustable in the l IOC IIO

whereby an 'occupant of the bed is enabled nmne to this specification inthe presence of to sit in a natural upright position upon the twosubscribing Witnesses. seet-frameand beneath the level of the mfLt- Ytress when the said removable section of the ALEXANDER MCKNIGHT'mattress is removed, substantially las set Witnesses: fol-th. EDWINSEGER,

In testmony'whereof I have signed my NICHOLAS M. GOODLETT, Jr.

